Maona presents: Mapantsula15

Directed by Oliver Schmitz | South Africa | 1988 | 1h 43m | Zulu w/ English subtitles | Starring Thomas Mogotlane, Thembi Mtshali, Peter Sephuma, Marcel Van Heerden, Eugene Majola

A small-time hustler navigating the streets of Soweto finds himself entangled in anti-apartheid protests. When singled out by the local police, he faces a pivotal decision: prioritise personal gain or join the movement against racism. A quintessential example of guerrilla filmmaking, Oliver Schmitz’s 1988 cult-classic crime drama has finally emerged in stunning 4K resolution after years of suppression. Screenings marking the 30th anniversary of South African Freedom.

These screenings will be introduced by Dr Robert Freeman. Robert is a lecturer in English, and affiliate of New College, Oxford. He writes on African film, literary value, and the history of cultural institutions.

Reviews

‘The film starts as a racy gangster melodrama with an unusually pungent low-life city background, then builds inexorably to a moral reckoning, a ferocious, unforgettable denouement.’
Michael Wilmington, The LA Times

Book tickets

Tuesday 21 May

6.15pmBook tickets
Wednesday 22 May

8.45pmBook tickets

What else is on?

Tomorrow (Friday 17th May)

15:00

Kidnapped 12A
2h 14m | Italian w/ English subtitles
In 19th-century Italy, the Catholic Church kidnaps a young Jewish boy claiming that he was secretly baptised at birth. A gripping drama told with operatic intensity and visual grandeur by Palme d’Or winner Marco Bellocchio.

Book here

18:00

Challengers 15
2h 11m
A tough tennis coach (Zendaya) arranges a ‘challenger’ match between her husband, a former champion on a losing streak, and her ex-lover (Josh O’Connor) in this steamy romance directed by Luca Guadagnino.

Book here

20:45

Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry 15
1h 50m | Georgian w/ English subtitles
In a Georgian village, a middle-aged woman vows never to marry, causing intrigue amongst the locals. But when she unexpectedly begins to fall in love, she must choose between her life of independence and romance.

Book here


Saturday 18th May

15:00

Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry 15
1h 50m | Georgian w/ English subtitles
In a Georgian village, a middle-aged woman vows never to marry, causing intrigue amongst the locals. But when she unexpectedly begins to fall in love, she must choose between her life of independence and romance.

Book here

17:30

Kidnapped 12A
2h 14m | Italian w/ English subtitles
In 19th-century Italy, the Catholic Church kidnaps a young Jewish boy claiming that he was secretly baptised at birth. A gripping drama told with operatic intensity and visual grandeur by Palme d’Or winner Marco Bellocchio.

Book here

20:30

Challengers 15
2h 11m
A tough tennis coach (Zendaya) arranges a ‘challenger’ match between her husband, a former champion on a losing streak, and her ex-lover (Josh O’Connor) in this steamy romance directed by Luca Guadagnino.

Book here


Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road. We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We don’t show adverts, just a couple of trailers, so don't be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!